a certain demographic

USAGE SUMMARY

'a certain demographic' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a particular group of people who share a common characteristic such as age, gender, nationality, interests, etc. For example, "The company has seen a spike in sales among a certain demographic of younger customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

It's a certain demographic, the people who know the car.

The New York Times

Not surprisingly, this progressive attitude has attracted a certain demographic.

The New York Times - Travel

To look like you live there suffices if you are in a certain demographic.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I resist the thought that you can target programming at a certain demographic," he said.

The New York Times

In Atlanta, that's what you do once you hit a certain demographic category.

The New Yorker

"There's a certain demographic, a clientele that feels comfortable here," she said.

The New York Times

"If there is a show that appeals to a certain demographic, that audience will find it.

The New York Times

You'd imagine for a certain demographic this will be nostalgic catnip and great fun live.

The Guardian - Music

It's great that anyone feels they can access the work, not just a certain demographic.

The Guardian

A certain demographic will be as sure to book tickets as another will run screaming.

The Guardian - Film

Apple's emojification will be welcomed with 😀 by a certain demographic, but greeted with a 😡 by another.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a certain demographic", be as specific as possible to avoid ambiguity. Clearly define the characteristics that define the group you are referring to (e.g., age, income, location).

Common error

Avoid using "a certain demographic" without providing context or specific attributes. Simply stating that something appeals to "a certain demographic" can be vague and uninformative. Provide details to clarify the group you are discussing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain demographic" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It identifies a particular group of people based on shared characteristics. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to refer to a specific segment of the population.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a certain demographic" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to denote a specific group of people. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is commonly employed in news and media to identify target audiences or segments of the population. While versatile, clarity is key. When using this phrase, providing specific characteristics that define the demographic is recommended to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "specific population group" or "targeted audience" can be used depending on the specific context. While the phrase is most frequently seen in news and media, its neutral register makes it suitable for a broad range of professional communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a specific population group

Replaces 'demographic' with 'population group' for a slightly more general term.

a particular segment of the population

Uses 'segment' instead of 'demographic' to emphasize a part of the larger population.

a defined group of individuals

Replaces 'demographic' with 'group of individuals' for a more direct, less technical term.

a targeted audience

Focuses on the group being addressed or marketed to.

a select portion of society

Emphasizes the chosen or specific nature of the group.

a distinct sector of the community

Highlights the group's separateness or identifiability within a broader community.

a known cohort

Uses 'cohort' to refer to a group sharing a statistical or demographic trait.

a pre-determined category of people

Stresses that the group is classified according to established criteria.

a relevant subset

Highlights that the group is a portion of a larger set, and relevant to a specific purpose.

a given profile

Uses the term 'profile' which is used when defining target audiences, but can have a more general meaning depending on context.

FAQs

How can I use "a certain demographic" in a sentence?

You can use "a certain demographic" to refer to a specific group of people sharing common characteristics. For example, "The marketing campaign is designed to appeal to "a certain demographic" of young, urban professionals."

What are some alternatives to "a certain demographic"?

Alternatives include "a specific population group", "a particular segment of the population", or "a targeted audience" depending on the context.

What makes a demographic "certain"?

In the context of "a certain demographic", "certain" implies that the group is defined by specific, identifiable characteristics, such as age, gender, income, location, or interests.

Is it more appropriate to say "a certain demographic" or "a specific demographic"?

Both "a certain demographic" and "a specific demographic" are acceptable. "Specific" emphasizes precision, while "certain" suggests a known or identifiable group, but in most contexts, they are interchangeable.